9781422273111

WOMEN IN STEM CAREERS

Women in Anthropology

Women in Chemistry

Women in Engineering

Women in Environmental Sciences

Women in Information Technology

Women in Medicine

Women in Physics

Women in Space Exploration

Women Inventors

WOMEN IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

By Andrew Morkes and Shaina Indovino

Mason Crest Philadelphia • Miami

PO Box 221876, Hollywood, FL 33022 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free) • www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2022 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-4499-9 Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4222-4507-1 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-7311-1 Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress Developed and produced by National Highlights, Inc. Production: Andy Morkes Cover and Interior Design: Tim Palin Layout: Priceless Digital Media Publisher’s Note: Websites listed in this book were active at the time of publication. The publisher is not responsible for websites that have changed their address or discontinued operation since the date of publication. The publisher reviews and updates the websites each time the book is reprinted.

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CONTENTS

Introduction

6

Chapter 1: Careers in Environmental Science Rachel Carson: The Woman Who Warned the World About Pesticides

10 23 26 39 42

Chapter 2: Terms of the Trade Joan Berkowitz: Fighting Pollution

Chapter 3: Educational Training and Salaries

Susan Solomon: Protecting the Atmosphere

51

Chapter 4: Exploring Careers in Environmental Science

56

Dianne Gates-Anderson: Protecting the Earth fromWastes

73

Chapter 5: The Future of Environmental Science and Careers

76 85 90 91 92 95 96

Wangari Maathai: Nobel Prize Winner

Further Reading and Internet Resources

Educational Video Links

Index

Photo Credits

About the Authors and Consultant

Key Icons to Look For

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND: These words, with their easy-to-understand definitions, will increase readers’ understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills. SIDEBARS: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. TEXT-DEPENDENT QUESTIONS: These questions send the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. RESEARCH PROJECTS: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connected to each chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis.

INTRODUCTION

Have you wondered how the natural world works? Are you curious how science could help sick people get better? Do you want to learn more about our planet and universe? Are you excited to use technology to learn and share ideas? Do you want to build something new? Scientists, engineers, and doctors are among the many types of people who think deeply about science and nature, who often have new ideas on how to improve life in our world. We live in a remarkable time in human history. The level of understanding and rate of progress in science and technology have never been greater. Major advances in these areas include the following: • Computer scientists and engineers are building mobile and internet technology to help people access and share information at incredible speeds. • Biologists and chemists are creating medicines that can target and get rid of harmful cancer cells in the body.

Coal-fired power plants are a major source of air pollution globally.

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Planet Earth.

• Engineers are guiding robots on Mars to explore the history of water on that planet. • Physicists are using math and experiments to estimate the age of the universe to be greater than 13 billion years. • Scientists and engineers are building hybrid cars that can be better for our environment.

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INTRODUCTION

Scientists are interested in discovering and understanding key principles in nature, including biological, chemical, mathematical, and physical aspects of our world. They observe, measure, and experiment in a systematic way in order to test and improve their understanding. Engineers focus on applying scientific knowledge and math to find creative solutions for technical problems and to develop real products for people to use. There are many types of engineering, including computer, electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical, and biomedical engineering. Some people have also found that studying science or engineering can help them succeed in other professions such as law, business, and medicine. Both women and men can be successful in science and engineering. This series provides information on education and careers in a variety of science fields. It also highlights women leaders who have made significant contributions across many scientific fields, including chemistry, medicine, anthropology, engineering, and physics. Historically, women have faced barriers to training and building careers in science, which makes some of these stories even more amazing. While not all barriers have been overcome, our society has made tremendous progress in educating and advancing women in science. Today, there are schools, organizations, and resources that help women to pursue careers as scientists or engineers at the highest levels of achievement and leadership. The goals of this series are to help you with the following: 1. Learn about women scientists, engineers, doctors, and inventors who have made a major impact in science and our society 2. Understand different types of science and engineering and key terms in these fields 3. Learn more about the variety of educational paths one can pursue to enter these careers 4. Explore science and math in school and real life 5. Learn about the employment outlook in science and engineering specialties

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WOMEN IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

You can do a lot of things to learn more about science, math, and engineering. Explore topics in books or online, take a class at school, go to science camp, or do experiments at home. More important, talk to a real scientist, doctor, or engineer! Call or email your local college to find students and professors. They would love to meet with you. Ask your doctors about their education and training. Or you can check out these helpful resources: • NOVA has very cool videos about science, including profiles on real-life women scientists and engineers: www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova. • National Geographic has excellent photos and stories to inspire people to care about the planet: www.nationalgeographic.com/science. Here are examples of online courses for students, of which many are free: 1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) OpenCourseWare for high school: https://ocw.mit.edu/high-school 2. Khan Academy tutorials and courses: www.khanacademy.org 3. Stanford University Online High School: https://onlinehighschool. stanford.edu Other skills will become important as you get older. Build strong communication skills, such as asking questions and sharing your ideas in class. Ask for advice or help when needed from your teachers, mentors, tutors, or classmates. Be curious and resilient: learn from your successes and mistakes. The best scientists and engineers do. Learning science and math is one of the most important things that you can do in school. Knowledge and experience in these areas will teach you how to think and how the world works, and they can provide you with many adventures and paths in life. I hope you will explore science, engineering, and medicine—you could make a difference in this world. Ann Lee-Karlon, PhD Past-President, Association for Women in Science

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INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: CAREERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Words to Understand atmosphere: the mass of air that surrounds Earth

developing nation: a poor agricultural country that is trying to become more advanced, economically, technologically, and socially nutrients: substances that plants and other living things need to grow and that they cannot make entirely on their own

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THE WORLD OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Have you ever looked at nature and wondered why things are the way they are? Why does it rain more near a lake than on dry land? What does the ozone layer have to do with the temperature of Earth? How does a new housing development affect the animals and plants that lived on that land? Environmental scientists observe nature (plants, animals, weather, the atmosphere , soil, water, etc.) and investigate relationships between different elements of the environment. They find answers to questions like these. The environment is very complex (intricate and complicated). Water, mountains, rivers, lakes, sunlight, and soil all interact with one another, creating a place where living things can grow. The climate is influenced by the intensity (strength)

and angle of the sun as it strikes Earth. Weather patterns are shaped by the way air rises and moves in the atmosphere. Climate and weather create unique patterns of heat and moisture, which in turn create the conditions where certain life forms can thrive (do well). Nutrients in the soil allow plants to grow. When animals eat those plants and eventually die, decomposers, such as mushrooms, worms, and bacteria, break down dead organisms (living things) so that they return to the soil, adding to the nutrients. Everything in nature is connected within the cycle of life. Because of this, a problem in a particular ecosystem can have any number of different explanations. An environmental scientist has to carefully sort through the various factors, determining how they

DID YOU KNOW?

Fifty-nine percent of teens surveyed by the National Environmental Education Foundation feel that the environment is in bad shape, but that it can be saved. Forty-five percent believe that the health of the environment will get worse in the future. Fifty- nine percent of teens worry about the state of the environment.

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WOMEN IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

interact. Finding solutions to an environmental problem is not an easy job, but these scientists are passionate about protecting our planet and learning as much as they can about the plants and animals that live on it, as well as the air, soil, and water. Environmental science is a relatively new field that has a growing importance in our world today. Back in the twentieth century, when this scientific field was just getting started, some of the scientists who helped to build its foundations were courageous, curious, and intelligent women.

Deforestation is a major problem around the world.

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WHY BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST? Environmental scientists around the world work together to make sure Earth will be healthy for future generations. As more people become aware of the problems of pollution, deforestation, and climate change, governments, corporations, and communities are looking for ways to solve these problems. Meanwhile, the human population continues to grow, and more people are using technology that contributes to these problems. The interaction between the natural world and human populations is complicated. Developing nations feel they should have the right to build industries that contribute to their economies, even though they may also contribute to pollution and other environmental problems. People may be more worried about getting a job at a new factory in their community than about the pollution that the factory may cause in their environment. Environmental scientists study these

problems, trying to find solutions that will be good for humans while protecting the planet on which we live. They give advice on how to fix existing problems (such as pollution and global warming), as well as how to prevent ones that haven’t happened yet (such as the complete melting of the polar ice caps). CAREER PATHS Environmental scientists conduct research in the field, in laboratories, and in other settings to learn more about and solve environmental problems, as well as study plants, animals,

DID YOU KNOW?

“Farming, grazing of livestock, mining, and drilling combined account for more than half of all deforestation,” according to National Geographic . “Forestry practices, wildfires and, in small part, urbanization account for the rest.”

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WOMEN IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Agricultural scientists use a microscope to study cotton roots.

other organisms, and entire ecosystems. The following paragraphs provide examples of the tasks involved with various positions in environmental science. Agricultural scientists investigate ways to improve the efficiency and safety of agricultural establishments and products. They specialize in fields such as animal, food, plant, and soil science. Atmospheric scientists study the layer of gases, called the atmosphere, that surrounds Earth. They also study the weather and climate to determine how these things affect humans and the overall environment. Meteorologists are specialized

A wildlife biologist

records data from another scientist, who is checking fish on the Oconaluftee River in North Carolina.

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atmospheric scientists who study the lower parts of the atmosphere (primarily the troposphere) and its effects on our weather. Biochemists and biophysicists use lasers, fluorescent microscopes, and other advanced technologies to study the physical and chemical makeup of living things and of biological processes, such as heredity, cell development, growth, and disease. Biologists investigate various aspects of plant and animal life, such as their anatomy, origins, relationships, development, and functions. They can specialize in a variety of fields. For example, wildlife biologists study animals. Microbiologists analyze tiny living things that can only be seen with a microscope, such as fungi and bacteria. Chemists investigate substances at the atomic and molecular levels to determine their makeup and to see how they interact with living and nonliving things.

Soil scientists look for signs of erosion on biomass- removal test plots.

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